Big kid Toshiba e740

If two years ago, someone said that today on our tables will be computers with dvuhgigagertsovymi processors, I would hardly believe it. It is clear that technology is not standing still, it is clear that they, as a bird-troika rushing gallop. But not to the same extent ... Some servers, specialized graphics workstations, expensive corporate glands - this is okay. But the conventional machine for playing Quake? No, it's already too ... Meanwhile, heavy-duty (by the standards of yesterday), computers do not just stand on our desks, they are still cheaper and indecent. And even look ... how to put it delicately ... slightly inhibitory. Even more than two gigahertz. Even two and two-tenths. In short, give the three and no nails! Or all of five ... However, handheld computers that crazy race frequencies do not seem particularly concerned. I note separately - seem to be. In fact, it has long begun. In the depths of the "pocket" companies (which have, incidentally, the huge size) mature and are ripe fresh models of PDAs based on the latest processors Xsclale from Intel. While these newborn mastodon on the shoulder, moderate speed - up to 400 MHz. But they promise and more - 1GHz and beyond. What is a processor with 400 MHz? Natural microwave oven. Stuck in a trouser pocket, and you're not half ... gentleman ... No, do not worry. I was just solely for the sake of a witticism ... It is difficult to say which company will enter the market with a ready-made commercial product based on the Xscale first. But the fact that one of them would be famous with his PDA Toshiba GENIO e740, no doubt. Machine is almost ready for mass production. We can only wait for the announcement date sales, which supposedly is about to begin - whether in June, or July 2002. Unfortunately, official information about GENIO e740 is missing completely, we have to use rumors, leaks, idle chatter. And photos of the new machines, which in the Internet, though not heavily, but not empty. In short - are looking at.

Dancing from stove

For a start - a few respectful words about the Toshiba. I think everyone knows that this worthy company produces excellent laptops. Moreover, Toshiba laptops best of the best and, despite the considerable cost (more accurately - not the smallest), are in great demand not only in the west, but here in Russia. Some time ago, when portable computers were monochrome, and models with color screens only hatch infant eggshell, for many of us the name Toshiba has been synonymous with the word "laptop". Somewhere on the horizon loomed very very celestials - Machines IBM. And everything else, diverse and hopelessly Chinese seemed frivolous. Today everything is different. Next to Toshiba, a host of names (and IBM laptops have suddenly become quite affordable). But the computers in this well-deserved brand still enjoys the fame of reliable, well-designed cars. The very same company, among other things, produces other digital appliances such as digital cameras. Now we saw the Toshiba brand and PDAs (only we - Toshiba in this area is not new, but its cars to Russia has not yet reached). By the way - Digital camera Toshiba differ curious design. I'm talking about the most simple, amateur models. They are vaguely reminiscent of traditional film cameras made in Germany. A sort of monumental design with unlimited service life. Owners camera Toshiba confirms my opinion.

Toshiba e740

Design e740 special grace did not shine, and also resembles a thorough German technology (totally unexpected association - the eternal rangefinder Leica, while talking about completely unrelated things). Silver rectangular case with sharp corners. Lateral margins rounded. Appearance, in general, recognizable ... Something looks like a pocket PC from Aero Compaq ... Although this can be attributed to the enacted imagination. Location of Controls e740 nothing special stands out. The front panel of four lined up in a number of buttons - launch key applications.Between them "penny" manipulator - a sort of "pocket-computer" joystick, it is customary for owners of Pocket PC. The dynamics of a joystick, no, he passed to the right and guessed at their own reshetochki ... Yes, this is clearly not iPaq ... Although, maybe for the better? Memory (32 megabytes and 64 megabytes of continuing operations), screen (seems to be not reflective, conventional TFT with backlight nondisconnectable - apologize if wrong), microphone, navigation wheel (though maybe button - see a live, specify) - a complete gentleman set a la Pocket PC 2002. Operating system Pocket PC 2002, too. So there's no surprises. Unless, of course, do not take motor racing - Xscale PXA250 processor with 400 MHz, which should be managed with the programs of Windows CE, literally, with a whistle. Personal machine, yes? Wait, that's not all. The most interesting thing - to come.

Delicacies for gourmets

What is most encouraging - Toshiba designers listen to the voice of the people. And right along with the machine produce a stronger version of the lithium battery capacity of 3000 mAh (1000 mAh vs. regular battery). Moreover, the battery will not be further merged, as in other manufacturers' machines, and interchangeable. That is a more powerful battery would not increase the size PDA (only slightly - in thickness), and snaps into place full-time battery that clips on to the back of the computer from the outside. This powerful batteries in the handheld computers had ever meet. Why is it necessary? In normal use - for extending battery life (due to personal estimations not menee12 hours, if not all, 16). But in unusual applications - to power wireless module. But more about that shortly. Another nice feature - not merit Toshiba, and again finds reasonable adherence to rivals. I'm talking about two designated slots for memory cards and portable peripherals. The first slot - CompactFlash Type II. Direct rebuke to Hewlett-Packard, which builds its computers only slots CF Type I, do not allow the use of miniature hard drives charms Microdrive. Second slot on the e740 - "palmovsky" MultiMedia card / Secure Digital. Such a solution is used in the PDA Cassiopeia E-200. In practical terms, it is, firstly, open to owners of new cars available to the periphery of modern computers for Palm (for the same modules, Bluetooth). And secondly, can safely use the "card" devices are not deprived in this case the computer memory. In one slot inserts a card - network, modem, radioadapter, mikrovinchester, and the second - flash memory card. Wonderful, is not it? And here I must apologize ... I never figured out - whether the next 'feature' in the standard distribution Toshiba GENIO e740 or will sell separately. On the package image of this thing there ... But on the box of my machines (Cassiopeia BE-300, that it was healthy) is drawn so that I could hardly not to crack from the runup of happiness. It turned out - advertising ... This piece - attached is the bottom, to the system connector of the CCP, the universal module. Externally it is remotely similar to flash memory for the "smartcard" Palm m100 and m105, but the content is nothing in common. Multifunction module. It is equipped with mini-connector USB (need a special cable or adapter). With the help of machine can work with any USB peripherals, from keyboards and joysticks ... However, at the same Casio E-200 similar "feature" is a long time ago. But none of the connected devices do not work - no drivers. Casio the glory that does not spoil its visitors. Owners of machines have either by writing drivers, or accessed through the Internet to "good people". And both - well-established practice. True, Toshiba in such respect there is no reason to blame. This means that drivers will be (cautiously add - probably). The second function of the module - display video in a format VGA. Yes, e740 has a screen with a standard for Pocket PC resolution of 240x320 pixels and the external monitor displays 640x480. What gives? Very much. Plug-in to the system connector to attach USB keyboard to VGA (connector type is unknown to me, but should be standard) desktop monitor. And working with Pocket PC as a small laptop. And you can connect to the handheld video machine and make a public presentation.Or use an external adapter (or to find a TV to the input of VGA) and watch the slide show, videos on television. Or run on your TV "pocket" game ... Powerful Xscale processor, and will easily cope with the decoding of high-quality music and video playback. In any case, MPEG-4 for this computer - sunflower seeds ... And if you connect to the e740 "USB-shny" CD-ROM from the laptop? And if you run the video directly from the disk? I do not know if this is possible. But with such a functional diversity of doubt is becoming less and less.

Some amendments to the above

After the publication of this article responded to one of our compatriots who purchased Toshiba e740 in the U.S. online store. As he writes, the module cost an extra $ 100. In fact, connect the monitor to the PDA is possible, but only if doing demos and constantly display images on the big screen. USB port is only understands the Pocket PC keyboard from Microsoft.


By the way, subjectively, in the opinion of the same user, the new XScale processor running only 5-10% faster PDA iPAQ (200 MHz). As we have mentioned, it depends on Microsoft, which soon will optimize its software for handheld devices under the new processor.


Battery, even a standard, pulls a very long time, due to step frequency reset by the kernel. Very nice to read books, by the way, and how the recorder works very well with a single button.


Wireless communication standard 802.11b while there are only in America and at home, if you install the Access Point.

Down the wire

Scheduled for release just three modifications e740. First, the base has all of the above and nothing more. The other two are equipped with built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi - the wireless standard known as 802.11b but faster and more "long range" than advertised right now Bluetooth. However, the details of that and the other can be read here. A few words in the subject. 2002 can be considered as the year Bluetooth. In the Russian shops appeared wireless modules for laptops and PDAs. In the salons of mobile phones sold with Bluetooth and wireless headsets, built on this technology. Not enough until the periphery - printers, scanners, cameras - incorporating radioadapterami. But it is a matter of time. The main thing - technology has reached the age of conversation and interest has shifted to practical ... Thus, the relevance to Russia remain two modifications Toshiba GENIO e740 - basic and an adapter with integrated Bluetooth. Given the high cost of new computers (it's for sure), it looks more attractive base modification. And that - to take a powerful handheld computer with two "card" slots, then supplement it with high-frequency radio communication module.

Game with only one gate

After the relative stagnation of the two thousandth year, when many companies were disappointed in the commercial attractiveness of handheld computers and left the market, the time of extraordinary activity of manufacturers of small cars. From the beginning, newswires overwhelmed by reports of new models, programs, services. Heard in the U.S. PDA users, we look at air travel at their typewriters movies - directly from flash memory cards? There also does sell books, written in a flash - to be read on Palm `ah. And not just books but newspapers and fresh ... Reusable paper on a rewritable flash memory - that's a wonderful miracle ... Life changes. I think by the end of the year we will witness great progress in the CPC. We all look forward to the release of new operating systems for computers Palm. Do not sit around and competitors. Computers family of Pocket PC, such as the e740, are becoming more productive, all functional. Quite unexpectedly turned the situation around the EPOC. Psion Computers is no longer available, but the platform does not think of dying. Take the new communicators based on the operating system EPOC32 - with color screens and without a touch input information, and keyboards, digital cameras and just ... Why not pocket computers? No, better, much better - it's also a phone ... Not without reason the platform Symbian consortium itself so intently eyeing Intel.Something else will happen? New companies PDA makers - such as Mitac and Samsung - are pushing leaders in all new development. In the PDA Toshiba implemented USB and VGA ... Do not you think that pretty soon you connect to any pocket typewriter keyboard, and any monitor (bulky cathode-ray tube, or, even more attractive, elegant in a liquid crystal matrix) will be the accepted standard? We can do is watch the dizzying race. For this is not football. There are no winners, and winners are always the audience. I mean the users - we are with you. The authors, translation:

hpcru@hpc.ru